Call for EU treaty change to defend academic freedom

Policy leaders at European Parliament meeting argue for legal basis to hold member states accountable

European lawmakers and research leaders have called for the EU’s treaties to be changed to push back against curbs on academic freedom by member states.

Governments in eastern Europe have come under pressure from the EU over academic freedom in recent years. For example, changes to national laws in Hungary meant that the Central European University had to move most of its activities from Budapest to Vienna.